Tomorrow I will likely get to see my best friend from junior high/high school. Yay! She's driving through on her way back from seeing her sis. We are meeting in a town about 30 miles from here, 22 miles from my church. She should be coming through around 2ish. So the plan is that I will go to the 12:00 service at my church, call her from their with my phone card and then head over that way to meet her at Applebee's. It will be nice to see her again after such a long time! I'll have to bring my camera and take pictures. :o)

I am so much seeing perspectives in my life that need to be changed. I think it all boils down to dying to my pride. At times it seems that every time I turn around, I see my own wretchedness. But that's a good thing, right? I mean, not that I'm wretched, but that the Lord is showing me how I am?

We moved one of my roommates into her house today. Well, I guess it would be more correct to say her stuff? She needed to go out of town this weekend and have some dental work done. My remaining roommate and I prayed together tonight and had a good talk about what we're doing as far as apartments. It looks like I will be moving pretty soon--likely August 25! I'm excited but also realizing this is a big step and in a sense "stepping out of my comfort zone"... though I'm very much sensing the Lord has orchestrated and directed this. I think in many ways the move will drive me to more dependence on Him. There is so much He is able to teach me if I'll just let Him. : )

A friend from work and I had fun running through the rain tonight! My roommate Dorinda was packing, and we all hung out. That was fun. Tonight it really hit me ... We're moving. Wow! Hard to believe.

We three roommates have been here together for almost two years. The Lord has taught us (and stretched us all!) a lot, and we've had some good fellowship. I hope we can remain good friends! At the same time I'm also looking forward to this new chapter in my life.

I think the Lord has put it on my heart to have a schedule of sorts--certain things I want to make time for, such as curling up with a good book, getting lots of cooking experience, prayer times, etc. I'm excited about it! PRAY for me that I would live purposefully ... that even though I will have my own apartment, I would not yield to the temptation to be selfish--to do things when I want to do them. Instead, I want to listen to the Spirit. Even as I say this, I know I am weak in my human flesh. But He is able!

Last night before going to bed (or was it this morning? can't remember?) I read Malachi 3:10, a verse that was quoted in my devotional. I actually didn't get any further than that verse! It's such a good truth, about how the Lord's blessings are available for His children as they yield to Him. That is my desire--that I will spend my time (and money) as He would have me to, trusting Him that He will abundantly minister to me and meet my needs. Praise God!  

Life has been good! We had an exciting story from the field recently. So, things have been busy in the web room, with our team leader and I working on articles and email subscriber feedback. It's incredible to see how the Lord answers prayer.

Tomorrow after work, my roommates and I are having dinner together. I'm looking forward to the food and fellowship. :o) One of my roommates is ordering a pizza online (cheaper that way I think!) and then I'm gonna pick it up. Talk about teamwork. :o) We all are also gonna discuss logistics and details of our upcoming moves--all in different directions. We've already decided we all want to continue our roommate dinners once a month. I'm glad for that!

Stop the press! Today I found a cute apartment for a GREAT price! I am moving into it on August 25. The story of how the Lord orchestrated everything is pretty cool. Long story made short, he totally lined up everything between us roommates, leadership here at the ministry, etc. There are still details that we all need to work out, but things are coming together.

Basically, we're all willing to do whatever the Lord would have--and what would be best for the ministry. I'm so excited! :o) The message tonight at our Sunday night fellowship was about living more and more purposefully, with eternity in mind. It was so good, and something I felt the Lord had already been putting on my heart, especially during this particular season of my life. Walking around our apartment complex later (it's been a beautiful day!) I dedicated my new place to the Lord.  

"Just five more minutes."

I found myself continually saying this as I played a game with my Bible study leader's 8-year-old daughter tonight at the coffee shop. :o) Of course, it turned into five or six more minutes, and on and on ... You get the picture. :o) It was fun! And Shari joined us. I just met her tonight and don't know whether she knows the Lord or not. Pray the Lord works in her heart! She's really nice.

Tomorrow my roommates and I are meeting up with a couple of coworkers to surprise one of them for her birthday. That will be fun! :o) Then I'm meeting up with my friend Lindi, who has taken a job in Utah. I will miss her! We have a special friendship and enjoy sharing about the Lord.

Wow, today has been such a good day! I got to fellowship with friends over lunch AND supper. I ran into another friend at the store, gave her a ride home, and hung out with her for a while. :o)

While I am aware that the "situation" is still there, it seems to have faded into the background for now. That's how it is for me a good amount of the time, though not the whole time. God is faithful and He knows what's best! I can trust Him.

There is a hard situation in my life that the Lord, for whatever reason, has seen fit to let go on in my life for a while now. Usually by His grace I'm able to stay pretty encouraged, but this afternoon I was crying ... I wasn't good for much at the office. ;o) By faith, tomorrow will be better!

I already feel so much better. A big group of us from the ministry went to Six Flags tonight (aren't season passes great? :o)) and I had a nice time! :o) On the way back, we girls were having a good talk about the Lord's timing--how it is perfect. We can trust Him! One thing my friend (and roommate) mentioned especially encouraged me. She said she was reading in A Tale of Three Kings about how some of David's times of deepest sorrow produced such beautiful words that still speak into the lives of so many. Praise God for that! How thankful I am--how comforting it is to know--that nothing I go through is by accident. It is all for a purpose. Amen.

The Lord continues to allow difficult situations to come my way. By faith I thank Him, for I know He thinks good thoughts toward me. His plan is best. I can trust Him. And He is chiseling away my impurities, so I can be a little more like Him each day. That doesn't mean it's easy, though.

Prayer meeting tonight was good! And a group of us were all invited to someone's house to fellowship afterwards. I kind of wanted to go, but was sooooooooo tired this evening. I had some good time with the Lord!

Tonight one of my roommates and I grocery shopped together and then went to her cousin's house to eat chocolate chip ice cream. :o) Now? I am going to bed. I think I hear my pillow calling my name?
 
I'm excited about the different things the Lord will continue to work on in my life as I seek Him. I am encouraged that He is helping me in my everyday life to recognize perspectives that I would like to change. And of course, I realize giving them over to Him is the only way they will change.
 
I find that the Lord has been faithful to bring situations my way lately (at the ministry) that, while not always the easiest, are means to drive me to my knees and cling to Him all the more. Praise God!
 
Maybe I will write more when I'm more awake. :o) Have a great night!  

Yesterday a group of us went to Six Flags with our season passes. I had a wonderful time! Not only did we all have some great talks and laughs, but the Lord arranged for me to meet a youth leader who got me in to a Q&A session with Steven Curtis Chapman, who was there in concert. Though I didn't get to meet the singer, I so much appreciated his humility and transparent heart for the lost. It was so refreshing. He mentioned at the end how we could be praying for him and his family. I want to do this. He talked about an orphanage (I think in a third-world country) where the children all have special needs. He said these kids likely won't make it past another year. He added that he got down on his hands and knees with them and prayed and sang ... It was all he could do. I started crying. I think the Lord has given me a heart for people who are suffering and don't know Jesus ... I look forward to seeing what He will do with the things He has placed on my heart. It could simply be things like what He did last night.
 
When we were in line for Mr. Freeze, I had the opportunity to talk to a 13-year-old girl, Kimbero. I sensed the Lord may be putting it on my heart to share my testimony with her, so I did. And I got to pray with her (for her headache), and she asked me if I'd like to ride with her. Of course I said sure. :o) I was hoping to get to. It was cute; from the moment we got "buckled in" on the ride and were getting ready to "take off", she clasped my hand and didn't let go until we were about to get off. Right before the ride started she said, "I hope I don't throw up." I told her we would pray and that Jesus could help her not to. :o) And He did! Some of us also got to give her a couple of tracts, and I also gave tracts to two teenage girls I got to talk to. That made my day.

The service we render to others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth. It is obvious that man is himself a traveler; that the purpose of this world is not 'to have and to hold' but 'to give and serve.' There can be no other meaning.
--Sir Wilfred T. Grenfell
 
What a great quote. I thought I'd share it here tonight. Found it yesterday when I was at Barnes and Noble's bookstore--one of my favorite places that holds fond college memories. :o) The quote was in a book I was perusing, in between writing stories for the web.
 
Not much else is going on. Work is going well. Today I ate lunch with a coworker at Atlanta Bread Company. We had some fun laughs together, and good talks. She is a precious sister who has faithfully served part-time at GFA for close to 14 years now.
 

I'm back. My home computer is being looked at, as it shut itself down a few times while I was working on a writing assignment. So I'm using my roommate's for a few minutes. :o)

Not a whole lot is going on. I've just missed writing in here. :o) This has been a good week so far. Yesterday I had some good time with the Lord during my lunch break. And He has given me much-needed peace about a decision I was struggling with. What a blessing! He is so good to us.

Church was good today. Our pastor spoke on the Apostle Paul, and how his life was poured out as an offering to the Lord. I sat on a bench outside church and journaled about it. I am amazed at the Apostle Paul's self-sacrificial, consecrated life. Sometimes I wonder, will I get to that point? The Lord has brought me a long way, yet I know there still are so many areas in which I need to die to myself. I am so glad He who has begun a good work in me will complete it! (Philippians 1:6) He is faithful, even when I am not.

This afternoon I got a bunch done as far as writing. Tonight at our staff worship service I had Kids Korner. I shared a very brief lesson about Joseph, and how he forgave his brothers even when they had been mean to him--and how Jesus died for forgiveness of sin. I had the sweetest brother and sister in there whose parents are visiting friends. The little girl was excited when she saw me again during the fellowship time afterwards. :o)

Tonight we played volleyball. I did quite poorly. But it was so much fun! :o) People seem to enjoy it so much; maybe we'll do it more. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with some coworkers to go eat at McAlisters Deli, a really yummy restaurant that we have back home, and didn't have here--until it very recently came here. I can't wait! :o)

Today was a good day overall. I had fun with Ruthie and Dorinda! But my night was rather unfocused. And I'm tired. And, I'm struggling with a decision I need to make.

I so much want to do what God wants, whatever that may be, but right now I'm not 100% sure what that is.

Praise God that His mercies are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22,23) And that His Word tells us if we ask Him for the wisdom we lack, He will give it to us. (James 1:5)

Tonight our brother Zac Poonen shared with us again, one last time. It was probably my favorite session. How it impacted me would be hard to express in words, so I won't try at the moment, especially as I am tired. Maybe I'll write more tomorrow.

I so much want to be obedient to everything the Lord would have me do, even when it's not easy. Brother Zac really brought out how, when Jesus walked this earth, He did nothing on His own volition--He only did the will of the Father. If Jesus, being perfect, did this, how much more should we? Please, please pray for me with this. Even as I write these things I know weak I am in my fallen human flesh, yet I so much desire to be like silly putty in His hands. To do His bidding and live for Him alone.

After Brother Zac shared, some of us gals on staff went to a family's house to hang out and have root beer floats. When we got home, my roommate Dorinda read me a bedtime story. :o) It was about a monster waiting at the end of the book. Except that the monster turns out to be the main character; he just doesn't know it yet. It was fun! She bought the book for a young mother on staff when she was having her first child. Now she's going to give the sequel (about two monsters who turn out to be the two main characters) to a younger sibling in the same family. I think that is a great gift for her.

Today has been such a good day. We have Brother Zac Poonen here sharing with us. It's always a treat when he comes; I have some of his tapes from when I was raising support, and I got so much out of them. In one of the tapes, he spoke of how of utmost importance is God's name being hallowed. Earthly circumstances don't matter; it's all about Him. When He is given the reverence due His name--the adoration He so much deserves--everything else falls into place. (Matthew 6:33)

This morning and evening he spoke to our staff. In speaking about the judgement we as Christians will go through, he made a statement that gripped me: "We need to live as people who know that one day we will give an account to God of everything we did and why." Wow. Quite convicting! I don't know how much I had really stopped to think of the full implications of 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.

Over lunch, I had the opportunity to talk with coworkers about the message we heard this morning. I may try to write more about each session later; right now I'm heading to catch some Zzzzzz's. Good night!

Tonight after prayer meeting, a group of us went to Starbucks and hung out. It was fun! I had some good laughs. I also got to ride in a convertible with some friends. I enjoyed waving my arms around in the breeze. :o) Although it was about 91 degrees, it still felt pretty nice outside!

I'm back! And ready to start this new week. :o) We all ended up getting a little sunburned, even though most of us (probably all of us?) wore sunscreen. And it was rather hot and humid outside. But, oh, how nice it was going to sleep to the sound of crickets chirping--and waking up to the birds singing. And being able to walk around at night and actually see the stars.

I enjoyed the ride back today with my friend Jen, and then had so much fun hanging out with my roommates afterwards. One of my roommates was out of town for a bit. It was so much fun chatting and catching up today. Well, I should go and work on something that needs to be completed by tomorrow. :o) It shouldn't take long. Good night!

A group of us are going camping today! I can't wait. Last night was extended prayer ('til 12 A.M.) at the ministry, yet I woke up this morning just a little after 8, refreshed and ready to go. :o) I was reading Psalm 138:8 this morning. Great verse. Well, have a blessed weekend, and Happy 4th of July. :o)